Simply the Best! Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Award Winners Celebrate Success

The cream of Lancashire and Blackpool's thriving tourism industry were celebrated in style today at an awards lunch organised by the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board and supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) with sponsors Lancashire County Developments Limited, Thwaites plc, Lancashire Evening Post, MLA (Museums, Libraries and Archives), New Mind, Blackpool Tourism and Made In Lancashire.

Over a hundred and fifty guests attended the second Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards at one of Lancashire's newest tourism treasures, the Stanley House Hotel in Mellor.  They shared some glittering moments with thirteen well deserved award winners from a diverse range of categories which this year included four new awards: The Taste of England Award, which commends regional supporters of food and drink and won by Seniors – The Fish Experience from Blackpool, who impressed the judges with their clear commitment to using and promoting regional products. Tourism Retailer of the Year won by Oswaldtwistle Mills Shopping Village, Tourism Sports Facility of the Year won by Cleveley Mere Fishing, Forton and Best Tourism Experience of the Year won by the Lancaster Annual Maritime Festival.

Hosted by actor, broadcaster and BBC Radio Lancashire favourite, Ted Robbins, the event recognised and celebrated the outstanding performers and high levels of investment in quality from across the tourism industry in Lancashire and Blackpool. Entry was free and judging for each category was orchestrated by a panel of tourism experts including mystery shoppers.

Other winners include the Pembroke Hotel in Blackpool that took away titles for Bed and Breakfast of the Year and Best Tourism Website of the Year and Wrea Green's, The Villa Country House Hotel won the accolade of Small Hotel of the Year, Lancaster House Hotel in Lancaster achieved the title of Large Hotel of the Year, Swans Rest Holiday Cottages, Poulton-le-Fylde won Self Catering Holiday of the Year, Sunset Park, Hambleton won Caravan Holiday Park of the Year, Business Tourism Award of the Year went to Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, Small Visitor Attraction of the Year was awarded to Rourke's Forge, Burnley and finally Large Visitor Attraction of the Year went to National Football Museum, Preston.

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